NJCTH President Testifies at Budget Hearing
Richard Goldstein, MD, testified on Monday at the budget hearing, in order to discuss GME and the current/future state of NJ's teaching hospitals, with regard to the newly proposed budget.
Trenton, NJ, March 30, 2007 --(PR.com)-- The president of the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals, Richard Goldstein, MD, testified at the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday at The Enterprise Center, located on the Burlington County College campus.
Dr. Goldstein focused his attention on the funding of Graduate Medical Education, which the state has long supported until this year. Governor Corzine has proposed cutting the funding by $100M which will result in an exodus of hundreds of residents in training to other states.
“If the Corzine budget is approved, New Jersey will lose incredibly smart future physicians to other states because the current system of funding graduate medical education will have been gutted,” warned by Dr. Goldstein, citing that in about 10 years a serious shortage of quality physicians will occur throughout the state even without the cut.
The impending physician shortage is the result of the aging of the population coupled with the retirement of older physicians. The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) has called for a 30% increase in medical students by the year 2015. “Instead, Governor Corzine has proposed that New Jersey head in the wrong direction,” he said.
Dr. Goldstein further wished to express to the committee and community that “GME dollars pay for the cost of providing invaluable hands-on clinical training to newly-minted doctors to work and learn in our teaching hospitals,” and does not pay for medical students to attend medical school. Additionally, it is precisely the physicians in training that oversee the care of 70% of New Jersey’s uninsured. “Paying for charity care and not paying for GME is an oxymoron,” he said. “They are often the same thing.
“Keeping the best and brightest young physicians in New Jersey will only happen if the state provides ample funding for them. If the proposed cut is not restored, it will be a great travesty especially since the Federal government will match the state funds.”
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CONTACT: Julia Schwitzer
Insight Communication [Consulting] Services, LLC
Jschwitzer_ics@yahoo.com 609-396-9000
Dr. Goldstein focused his attention on the funding of Graduate Medical Education, which the state has long supported until this year. Governor Corzine has proposed cutting the funding by $100M which will result in an exodus of hundreds of residents in training to other states.
“If the Corzine budget is approved, New Jersey will lose incredibly smart future physicians to other states because the current system of funding graduate medical education will have been gutted,” warned by Dr. Goldstein, citing that in about 10 years a serious shortage of quality physicians will occur throughout the state even without the cut.
The impending physician shortage is the result of the aging of the population coupled with the retirement of older physicians. The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) has called for a 30% increase in medical students by the year 2015. “Instead, Governor Corzine has proposed that New Jersey head in the wrong direction,” he said.
Dr. Goldstein further wished to express to the committee and community that “GME dollars pay for the cost of providing invaluable hands-on clinical training to newly-minted doctors to work and learn in our teaching hospitals,” and does not pay for medical students to attend medical school. Additionally, it is precisely the physicians in training that oversee the care of 70% of New Jersey’s uninsured. “Paying for charity care and not paying for GME is an oxymoron,” he said. “They are often the same thing.
“Keeping the best and brightest young physicians in New Jersey will only happen if the state provides ample funding for them. If the proposed cut is not restored, it will be a great travesty especially since the Federal government will match the state funds.”
###
CONTACT: Julia Schwitzer
Insight Communication [Consulting] Services, LLC
Jschwitzer_ics@yahoo.com 609-396-9000
Contact
New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals
Julia Schwitzer
609-656-9600
www.njcth.org/
Jackie Surre
jsurre@njcth.com
Julia Schwitzer
609-656-9600
www.njcth.org/
Jackie Surre
jsurre@njcth.com
Contact
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